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Abstract:

A bowling machine motor/gearbox conversion and adaptor kit may allow
people to reuse their current gearboxes by adapting the components to
utilize a new motor that would make the gearbox universal instead of
having different motor/gearbox combinations. The adaptor kit may adapt
the gearbox portion of the motor/gearbox assembly to allow the gearbox to
accept a current, new motor. A person may use the adaptor kit to repair
and replace components of a bowling machine's motor and gearbox assembly.

Claims:

1. An adaptor kit for connecting a motor with a gearbox assembly, the
adaptor kit comprising:an end bell adaptor adapted to be fastened to the
motor;a gearbox assembly adaptor plate adapted to be fastened to the
gearbox assembly; anda worm gear shaft mechanically connecting the motor
with the gearbox assembly, whereinthe end bell adaptor is adapted to
mount on the gearbox assembly adaptor plate.

2. The adaptor kit of claim 1, further comprising a seal housing plate
adapted to mount on the gearbox assembly to retain lubricant in the
gearbox assembly around the worm gear shaft.

3. The adaptor kit of claim 2, further comprising a seal between the worm
gear shaft and the seal housing plate.

4. The adaptor kit of claim 1, wherein the gearbox assembly adaptor plate
has a recessed inside diameter adapted to accept and self-align a
profiled end of the end bell adaptor.

5. The adaptor kit of claim 1, further comprising a braking system.

6. The adaptor kit of claim 5, wherein the braking system includes a
plurality of holes in the end bell adaptor, the holes adapted to retain
springs resiliently pressing brushes against the motor.

7. The adaptor kit of claim 1, wherein the end bell adaptor and the
gearbox assembly adaptor plate are formed from aluminum.

8. An adaptor plate for mounting a bowling machine motor onto a bowling
machine gearbox assembly, the adaptor plate comprising:an end bell
adaptor adapted to be fastened to the motor;a gearbox assembly adaptor
plate adapted to be fastened to the gearbox assembly; anda worm gear
shaft mechanically connecting the motor with the gearbox assembly;a seal
housing plate adapted to mount on the gearbox assembly to retain
lubricant in the gearbox assembly around the worm gear shaft; whereinthe
end bell adaptor is adapted to mount on the gearbox assembly adaptor
plate, andthe motor is not required to be designed specifically for the
gearbox assembly.

9. The adaptor plate of claim 8, wherein the motor is a replacement motor
to be mounted on the gearbox assembly.

10. The adaptor place of claim 8, further comprising a braking system the
braking system including a plurality of holes in the end bell adaptor,
the holes adapted to retain springs resiliently pressing brushes against
the motor.

[0002]The present invention relates to motors and gearboxes and, more
particularly, to an adaptor kit for providing interchangeability between
various motors and gearboxes.

[0003]Current bowling machine motor/gearbox assemblies do not provide for
adaptation, therefore they are specific to each other in the way they
mount to each other. This causes people to purchase complete and unique
motor/gearbox assemblies for operation of a bowling machine. When people
repair and service bowling machine motor/gearboxes, they experience
difficulties in that some components have been discontinued or no longer
repairable therefore not allowing them to perform proper maintenance.

[0004]For over the past 50 years, bowling machines have utilized seven
different manufactures of motors with corresponding gearboxes, with three
different gearbox combinations (Backend RH/LH & Combination). Most of the
components in these assemblies are unique to each style of manufacturer,
thus not allowing interchangeability. Also, with the age of these
devices, most of the components have been discontinued making these
assemblies non-repairable and non-operational.

[0005]As can be seen, there is a need for making different types of motors
and gearboxes compatible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]In one aspect of the present invention, an adaptor kit for
connecting a motor with a gearbox assembly comprises of an end bell
adaptor adapted to be fastened to the motor; a gearbox assembly adaptor
plate adapted to be fastened to the gearbox assembly; and a worm gear
shaft mechanically connecting the motor with the gearbox assembly,
wherein the end bell adaptor is adapted to mount on the gearbox assembly
adaptor plate.

[0007]In another aspect of the present invention, an adaptor plate for
mounting a bowling machine motor onto a bowling machine gearbox assembly
comprises of an end bell adaptor adapted to be fastened to the motor; a
gearbox assembly adaptor plate adapted to be fastened to the gearbox
assembly; and a worm gear shaft mechanically connecting the motor with
the gearbox assembly; a seal housing plate adapted to mount on the
gearbox assembly to retain lubricant in the gearbox assembly around the
worm gear shaft; wherein the end bell adaptor is adapted to mount on the
gearbox assembly adaptor plate, and the motor is not required to be
designed specifically for the gearbox assembly.

[0008]These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with reference to the following
drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of the adaptor kit according to an embodiment
of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a an exploded perspective view of the adaptor kit of FIG.
1; and

[0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012]The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is
made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the
invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the
appended claims.

[0013]Various inventive features are described below that can each be used
independently of one another or in combination with other features.

[0014]Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bowling
machine motor/gearbox conversion and adaptor kit. The adaptor kit of the
present invention may allow people to reuse their current gearboxes by
adapting the components to utilize a new motor that would make the
gearbox universal instead of having different motor/gearbox combinations.
The adaptor kit of the present invention may adapt the gearbox portion of
the motor/gearbox assembly to allow the gearbox to accept a current, new
motor. A person may use the adaptor kit of the present invention to
repair and replace components of a bowling machine's motor and gearbox
assembly. For example, when replacing the motor, the new motor does not
have to be specifically designed for use with the gearbox assembly.

[0015]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adaptor kit 10 may include an end
bell adaptor 16, a gearbox assembly adaptor plate 18 and a worm gear
shaft 20. The end bell adaptor 16 may fasten to a motor 12. The gearbox
assembly adaptor plate 18 may fasten to a gearbox assembly 14. The worm
gear shaft 20 may mechanically connect an output of the motor 12 to an
input of the gearbox assembly 14.

[0016]The end bell adaptor 16 may be made of steel, brass, titanium,
plastic, aluminum, cast steel, cast aluminum, a combination of these
materials or a material similar to these materials. In one embodiment of
the present invention, the end bell adaptor 16 may be made of aluminum.
The end bell adaptor 16 may be between about 7 to about 8 inches in
diameter, typically about 7.125+/-0.005-0.015 inches. The end bell
adaptor 16 may be round, square, hexagonal, octagonal, oval, elliptical
or the like. Typically, the end bell adaptor 16 may be round.

[0017]The gearbox assembly adaptor plate 18 may be made of steel, brass,
titanium, plastic, aluminum, cast steel, cast aluminum, a combination of
these materials or a material similar to these materials. In one
embodiment of the present invention, the gearbox assembly adaptor plate
18 may be made of aluminum. The gearbox assembly adaptor plate 18 may be
between about 7 to about 8 inches in diameter, typically about
7.125+/-0.005-0.015 inches. The gearbox assembly adaptor plate 18 may be
round, square, hexagonal, octagonal, oval, elliptical or the like.
Typically, the gearbox assembly adaptor plate 18 may be round.

[0018]The worm gear shaft 20 may be fitted into the gearbox assembly 14 to
rotationally connect the output shaft of the motor 12 with the gearbox
assembly 14. The worm gear shaft 20 may be made of steel, brass,
titanium, plastic, aluminum, cast steel, cast aluminum, a combination of
these materials or a material similar to these materials. In one
embodiment of the present invention, the worm gear shaft 20 may be made
of steel. The worm gear shaft 20 may be between about 5 to about 8 inches
in length, typically about 6.750+/-0.005-0.015 inches.

[0019]A seal housing plate 22 may fasten to the gearbox assembly 14 to
help retain lubricant inside the gearbox assembly 14, around the worm
gear shaft 20. This part may be made of steel, brass, titanium, plastic,
aluminum, cast steel, cast aluminum, a combination of these materials or
a material similar to these materials. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the seal housing plate 22 may be made of steel. The seal
housing plate 22 may be between about 2 to about 3 inches in diameter,
typically about 2.688+/-0.005-0.015 inches.

[0020]The gearbox assembly adaptor plate 18 may connect to the gearbox
assembly 14 using bolts 38 that may pass through holes 30 into the
gearbox assembly 14. The seal housing plate 22 may connect to the gearbox
assembly 14 using bolts 36 that may pass through holes 26 into the
gearbox assembly 14. The end bell adaptor 16 may attach to the motor 12
by bolts 34 that may pass through holes 25 into the motor 12. The gearbox
assembly adaptor plate 18 may have a recessed inside diameter (see FIG.
3) to accept and self align the profiled end bell adaptor 16. Once
aligned, bolts 32 may pass through holes 24 in the end bell adaptor 16
and thread into holes 28 in the gearbox assembly adaptor plate 18 to
connect the end bell adaptor 16 to the gearbox assembly adaptor plate 18.

[0021]Referring to FIG. 3, seals 40 may be disposed between the worm gear
shaft 20 and the seal housing plate 22 to help retain lubricant in the
gearbox assembly 14. Holes 44 in the end bell adaptor 16 may permit use
of an optional braking system 42. Braking system 42 may include springs
48 resiliently pressing brushes 46 toward the motor 12. A cover plate 52
may be mounted with screws 54 passing through holes 52 in the cover plate
52 into the motor 12.

[0022]It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to
exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth
in the following claims.